Borough clerk resigns; replacement sought

WASILLA — After eight years with the Mat-Su Borough, clerk Michelle McGehee is boxing up her office this week and heading south.

McGehee was offered a post in Redmond, Wash. “I accepted their terms and so I’m leaving in nine days,” McGehee said Wednesday.

McGehee has been employed with the Borough for eight years, four of those as clerk, and said she has enjoyed being a part of a dedicated team.

“It’ll be hard, being from here and all,” she said about moving out of state. “But it feels like it’s time.”

For 28 years, McGehee has lived in Alaska, deciding now is a better time to take a chance on the Outside with her daughter.

“I came up when I was 5 when my father was chasing oil,” McGehee said. “So, it will be a life change for my daughter Isabelle and me.”

McGehee’s last day as an employee with the Borough is Christmas Eve.

McGehee said no replacement has been found to fill her position, but a decision will definitely be made in early January when the Borough Assembly meets to review the growing pool of applicants vying to be the next Borough clerk. The Borough Assembly, the legislative branch of the borough government, appoints the clerk.

“Leaving certainly has been a hard decision,” she said. “Isabelle and I are doing this all on our own, but it’s very exciting too. My decision to leave was truly because I’d like to move ahead with my career and all the opportunities that are afforded to us.”

McGehee said she is ready to get in her car and drive around the United States with ease, a perk she has been looking forward to for a long time.

The clerk and staff administers the assembly’s offices and serves as a conduit for Borough administration, the public and other agencies. The clerk also administers all Borough elections and prepares petitions, verifying signatures for initiatives, referenda and recall elections.

Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.